Director of Campus Operations, Oakland

NU USA Northeastern University; Michigan; On-site; USD 125,000 - 182,000; Full time

Job summary

Northeastern University in Oakland is seeking a Director of Campus Operations to provide leadership across campus facilities, infrastructure, and services. You will align resources, systems, and processes to enhance efficiency, sustainability, and service excellence while partnering with senior leaders and external stakeholders.

The role requires a strategic, service‑oriented leader with strong communication and decision‑making skills, capable of guiding complex projects and improving campus

Qualifications

• Strong strategic and interpersonal abilities with experience leading a service organization.
• Experience coordinating multiple stakeholders, including senior leadership, staff and faculty.
• Change management and facilities operations experience are essential.

Responsibilities

• Strategic leadership and planning to align facilities with university priorities.
• Oversee cross-functional daily campus operations and infrastructure systems.
• Build partnerships with campus stakeholders and communicate performance updates.
• Mentor managers and promote equity, inclusion, and growth within teams.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Operational management

Stakeholder management

Change management

Communication

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree desirable

Job description

About the Opportunity

The Director of Campus Operations provides leadership, coordination, and direction across a broad portfolio of operational functions that support the university’s mission and daily campus life. Reporting to the Dean of the Oakland Campus, this role ensures the effective planning, execution, and continuous improvement of campus operations, infrastructure and initiatives. Serves as a strategic partner and operational leader, aligning resources, systems, and processes to promote efficiency, sustainability, and service excellence. Working collaboratively with institutional partners, the Senior Director of Campus Operations & Strategy leads efforts to improve the quality and efficiency of campus facilities and services, ensuring that both the physical environment and service delivery reflect the university’s mission and priorities.

Minimum Qualification

The Director of Campus Operations, Oakland is expected to have strategic, operational, and interpersonal skills, along with broad and deep expertise in the requisite areas of responsibility. The role requires a professional who brings confidence and humility to leading a service organization, with strong communication and relationship skills and a commitment to transparency. Effective decision-making, strategic planning, and project management expertise are essential. The ideal candidate is a diplomatic, service-oriented leader with the ability to collaborate with staff, administrators, faculty, and outside constituents. Experience with change management and facilities operations management. Ability to read and interpret architectural blueprints, mechanical/electrical/plumbing (MEP) drawings, and site plans to support campus operations and capital projects is a plus. Knowledge and skills required are typically acquired through completion of a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, plus at least 8 to10 years of experience that includes leading and delivering complex large-scale projects and partnerships, often managing a range of internal and external stakeholders as well as significant interaction with senior leadership teams. An advanced degree or professional credential is desirable as is experience in higher education.

Key Accountabilities & Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Planning Partner with institutional and departmental leaders to align facilities operations and campus life with university priorities and long-term campus strategies. Support specific Dean’s Office initiatives designed to integrate campus infrastructure with student, staff and faculty experiences. Lead initiatives that improve the quality, efficiency, and experience of campus operations, facilities, and services. Provide data-informed recommendations that support decision-making, resource allocation, and operational excellence. Develop and monitor key performance metrics that measure effectiveness, service quality, and customer satisfaction.

Operational Coordination & Delivery Oversee cross-functional coordination of daily campus operations, ensuring that building services, maintenance, and infrastructure systems run smoothly and responsively. Identify and implement process improvements to enhance service delivery, reduce costs, and minimize disruptions of campus activities. Ensure compliance with university standards, safety regulations, and sustainability commitments. Support emergency preparedness, business continuity, and operational resilience planning.

Partnership & Communication Build strong relationships with Facilities, Campus Planning, Sustainability, Residential Life, Provost Office, and other university stakeholders to promote collaboration and shared accountability. Communicate operational priorities, performance outcomes, and strategic updates to senior leadership. Champion a culture of service, accountability, and continuous improvement across campus operations teams.

Talent & Organizational Development Mentor and guide managers and staff, fostering professional growth and high performance. Promote equity, inclusion, and engagement in all aspects of team and departmental operations. Lead efforts to strengthen internal communication and knowledge sharing within facilities and campus operations.

Position Type & Additional Information

Facilities

Additional Information Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer. Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- as well as commuting & transportation. Visit https://hr.northeastern.edu/benefits/ for more information. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Compensation

Grade/Pay Type: 113S Expected Hiring Range: $125,250.00 - $181,612.50 With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will depend on several factors, which may include your education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change.

Background

Founded in 1898, Northeastern is a global research university and the recognized leader in experiential lifelong learning. Our approach of integrating real-world experience with education, research, and innovation empowers our students, faculty, alumni, and partners to create worldwide impact. Our global university system provides our community and academic, government, and industry partners with unique opportunities to think locally and act globally. The system—which includes 14 campuses across the U.S., U.K., and Canada, 300,000-plus alumni, and 3,000 partners worldwide—serves as a platform for scaling ideas, talent, and solutions. The university’s residential campuses for undergraduate and graduate degrees are located in Boston, London, and Oakland, California. Our research and graduate campuses are in the Massachusetts communities of Burlington and Nahant; Arlington, Virginia; Charlotte, North Carolina; Miami; Portland, Maine; Seattle; Silicon Valley, California; Toronto; and Vancouver. Northeastern’s personalized, experiential undergraduate and graduate programs lead to degrees through the doctorate in 10 colleges and schools across our campuses. Learning emphasizes the intersection of data, technology, and human literacies, uniquely preparing graduates for careers of the future and lives of fulfillment and accomplishment. Our research enterprise, with an R1 Carnegie classification, is solutions oriented and spans the world. Our faculty scholars and students work in teams that cross not just disciplines, but also sectors—aligned around solving today’s highly interconnected global challenges and focused on transformative impact for humankind.